New Update
/startuppedia/media/media_files/2025/01/14/hT9NK1FVC2uKKIlHzP98.jpeg)
Corporate bosses share "staring" pics with spouses in response to L&T chief's 90-hour work call
00:00
/ 00:00
L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan's recent 90-hour workweek call with mandatory Sunday work has been criticised by many corporate bosses and celebrities.
Corporate bosses share "staring" pics with spouses in response to L&T chief's 90-hour work call
L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan's recent 90-hour workweek call with mandatory Sunday work has been dismissed by many corporate bosses and celebrities alike.
The L&T chief’s comment, "How long can you stare at your wife?" has been criticised by netizens as insensitive towards employees striving for a work-life balance. Apart from creating controversy, the remark stirred a hilarious memefest, with corporate bosses, content creators and celebrities poking fun at the idea.
Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra shared that the focus should be on the quality of work done rather than quantity. He stressed the importance of prioritising productivity over lengthy work hours.
Mahindra said, "I think this debate is in the wrong direction. It's not about 48, 40 hours, it's not about 70 hours, it's not about 90 hours. What output are you doing even if it's 10 hours? You can change the world in 10 hours."
When asked about the controversial 'stare at wife' remark, the Mahindra boss said smiling, “My wife is wonderful, I love staring at her.”
In a recent social media post, Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla sided with Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra saying, "Yes [Anand Mahindra], even my wife [Natasha Poonawalla] thinks I am wonderful, she loves staring at me on Sundays. Quality of work over quantity always. Work life balance."
Yes @anandmahindra, even my wife @NPoonawalla thinks i am wonderful, she loves staring at me on Sundays. Quality of work over quantity always. #worklifebalance pic.twitter.com/5Lr1IjOB6r
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 12, 2025
Mamaearth founders Varun and Ghazal Alagh went ahead posting a photo, with Ghazal captioning it, "Sundays are for staring. Post yours with #staringsundays."
Sundays are for staring
— Ghazal Alagh (@GhazalAlagh) January 12, 2025
Post yours with #staringsundays pic.twitter.com/ck0T5e563t
BigBasket founder and CEO Hari Menon jovially mentioned Sunday as "Stare-day" in a humorous nod to the L&T Chairman's 90-hour workweek comment. Mr Menon asked, "Hope everyone is enjoying their Stareday".
Hope everyone is enjoying their Stareday!
— Hari Menon (@harimenon_bb) January 12, 2025
Shaadi.com's Anupam Mittal took a lighthearted jab at the L&T chief’s comment and remarked on platform X: "But sir, if husbands and wives don't look at each other, how will we remain the most populous country in the world?"
But sir, if husband and wife don’t look at each other, how will we remain the most populous country in the world🤔
— Anupam Mittal (@AnupamMittal) January 11, 2025
Incidentally, Bollywood actor and mental health advocate Deepika Padukone also reacted to Subrahmanyan's work call saying, "Shocking to see people in such senior positions make such statements.”
Former badminton player Jwala Gutta bashed Subrahmanyan, labelling his comments as "misogynistic" and the entire episode as "disappointing and scary.” Shaming the L&T chairman she wrote on X, "I mean…first of all, why shouldn’t he stare at his wife…and why only on a Sunday.”